As the following release documents, on February 15th my son and I missed
a vacation flight to Florida even though we got to Logan at 5 am, due to
chaos caused by the new security regulations.
I turned my frustration into the "Terrorism Travel Planner-USA" (I'm
working on another one handling the more complex risks of international
travel), a easy-to-navigate data base of regulations and tips
specifically for handhelds, so that you won't have to look for a staff
person to navigate this increasingly complex situation.
It joins the two-part "Terrorism Survival Plan" that I had created
earlier, which addresses the problem documented in the Columbia U survey
on Monday,which disclosed that 77% of the American public have done
nothing to prepare for another terrorist attack. Both programs
underscore my contention that homeland security strategy must (and still
doesn't) capitalize on handhelds, cell phones and other personal
technology that can empower individuals to act responsibly in a
dangerous situation (PalmOne, incidentally, is featuring my applications
and articles in its new homeland security site).
--David Stephenson
NEWS from Stephenson Strategies, Inc. and Town Compass, LLC
For release September 10, 2003
Terrorism Travel Planner - USA ™ for handhelds released
Father’s frustration led to comprehensive guide to new security regulations
(Medfield, MA) September 10 , 2003 – A father’s frustration when his
family missed a vacation flight due to airport security chaos led to the
Terrorism Travel Planner - USA™ , the first comprehensive air travel
security database for handhelds, released today by Stephenson
Strategies, Inc. (Medfield, MA) and Town Compass, LLC (Seattle).
Terrorism Travel Planner - US A™ joins the firms’ "Terrorism
Survival Plan™." Featured by PalmOne as part of its homeland security
initiative, that program gives all the information individuals need to
prepare for, or respond to, terrorism, reducing panic and letting
first-responders concentrate on those most in need.
The firms are developing a 4th module, covering international
travel precautions.
More than 200 entries in the data base cover packing and clothing,
trip planning, minimizing inspection hassles, and additional information
sources (including airlines’ toll-free numbers). Tips range from
minimizing inspectors’ handling of personal items by packing them in
clear plastic bags to cleaning off golf shoes (nitrate residues from
golf-course fertilizers can trigger bomb detectors).
Terrorism Travel Planner - USA ™ runs on Palm OS® and the Microsoft
Windows Mobility Platform. It may be downloaded from
PocketDirectory.com, Handango.com and PalmGear.com. The modules are
$3.95 each, or bundled for $10.95.
The companies are also considering other options for delivering the
package, including an annual subscription with updates.
According to homeland security strategist David Stephenson, , "I
created this program out of frustration at missing a vacation flight. We
got to the airport two hours early and still missed the flight because
new security regulations caused such chaos and there was no one to ask
for help. Terrorism Travel Planner – US A™ should end that: it gives
travelers the information they need, in an easy-to-search format, to
streamline the security and boarding process."
The data is displayed on the free Town Compass’® DataViewer, a
patent-pending application organizing and displaying content on
handhelds. DataViewer enables large databases to be navigated on small
screens in only 3 taps.
Stephenson culled and created terse summaries of information from
hundreds of pages of web sites and publications issued by the
Transportation Security Administration, travel columnists, and travel
organizations.
More details available at
http://www.pocketdirectory.com/softw...dProduct=32010
